Method and machine for coating cables



Jan. 23, 1934. w. w. CHURCH Erm. Y 1,944,822

HETHOD AND MACHINE FOR COTlHG CABLES Filed July 27, 1929 S'SheetS-Sheet1 7 um 5mm/toas 1 .....IYWE

Jan. 23, 1934. `w. w. CHURCH Er Al.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COATING CABLES Filed July 27. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet2 `Fan. 23, 1934. w. w. CHURCH Er AL METHODAND MACHINE -FOR COATINGCABLES Filed July 27. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HHHHLD w Ill? Patented Jan.23, 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COATINGCABLES Application July 27, 1929. ASerial No. 381,625

Claims.

insulated wires provided with insulating wrap-` pings which aresaturated with asphaltic saturants either in the form of compounds orunadulterated and processed asphalt with a comparatively thin coating ofstearin pitch and to subsequently and by a separate operation apply overH thecoating of stearin pitch a 4thin coating of a non-sticker coveringsuch as parailin or other wax-like material. The stearin pitch whenapplied to an insulated wire which is impregnated with an asphalticsaturant tends to remelt the saturant. to a certain extent so that thissaturant, to a certain degree, runs into the stearin pitch. This isundesirable and it has been somewhat diiiicult to overcome thisrunning-in tendency, particularly when a continuous process is attemptedto be used. In the applying of multiple coatings it may be desirable tocoat unsaturated braids. Certain of the running in effects are alsoencountered when such processes are used and accordingly, the inventionis not limited to the application of coatings to already saturatedinsulated wire or cable.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide amethod` and means for providing one or more coatings to insulated wiresor cables, which insulated Wires and cables may have Vtheir fibrouscoverings either saturated with asphaltic material or in an unsaturatedcondition to the general end that an improved product is secured. Y v

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a methodand means for applying a. stearin pitch coating to the asphalt saturatedbrous covering of insulated wires or cables 'and to minimize thetendency of the asphaltic saturant to rmelt and run into the pitchduring the application of such pitch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide animprovedmethod and means for applying over such stearin pitch arelatively thin paraffin or wax-like coating.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method andmeans of applying mica or a coloring pigment to the cable or insulatedwire. While the application of .such mica or coloring pigment is notessential, its application may be made intermediate the application ofthe stearin pitch and the parafn or wax-like coating if desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for thecoating of cables or insulated wires with rst a preliminary coating ofstearin pitch and thereafter to apply another thin coating of paraffinor wax-like material and to eiect both coating applications in one andthe same run whereby the cost'of production of coated insulated wires orcables may be lowered.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method andmeans of applying either an intermediate mica coating to the cable orinsulated wire or to provide a method and means 4of applying coloringpigment which is 7o adapted to show through the outer and last appliedcoating and thereby give a distinguishing color characteristic to theinsulated wire or cable. Such application of mica or coloring materialis also effected in one continuous run with the other. i

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of amethod and means of coating cables or insulated wires inwhich the cableor wire is maintained straight during the coating process. l

A Other objects and advantages will behereinafter set forth in theaccompanying' specification and claims and shown in the drawings, whichby way of illustration show what I now consider to be a preferredembodiment of the invention.

vln the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the complete machine; l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the left hand section of themachine which shows the stearin pitch applying station and the mica orcoloring pigment applying station;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is, an enlarged detail elevational view of the parain applyingstation shown at the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4,the view being taken 100 on line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and showing certainnozzle pipes for the applying of the parain coating to the cable orinsulated wire; and

Fig. @i is a top plan view-of certain parts shown ln elevation in Fig.4, the view being taken on 105 line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

In more detail referring to Fig. l, 10 is the main driving motor. 'I'hismotor through a suitable driving train drives the multiple take-up reels1l. A supplemental driving motor 10a is provided no for driving themoving parts which are at the paraffin applying station generallydesignated 12, but obviously this arrangement is not essential and themoving parts at such station could be driven from the main motorio.Suitable driving connections of any desired form provides a drive fromthe main motor` 10 to the moving parts at the intermediate mica coatingor dcoloring Apigment applying station generally designated 13 and tothe moving parts at the stearin pitch applying station generallydesignated 14. 15 designates a series of supply reels for the cablewhich is to be coated. In Fig. 1 the insulated wire or cable to becoated is shown at 16. As here shown this cable or insulated wiretraverses over the stearin pitch tank and through the station 13 andthence over the tank ofl paraffin at the paraflining station mow'ng in astraight' line through the coating station. According to previouspractice, such cable or insulated wire was passed directly into thestearin pitch bath and the paraflln or wax-like bath, but this manner ofhandling the cable or insulated wire has been found not whollysatisfactory on account of the diiculty of controlling the application'of the pitch and of controlling the remelting eiect previouslymentioned. In lieu of dipping the cable 16 directly down into the moltenbath of stearin pitch as heretofore, according to the present invention,the cable or insulated wire passes at a point which is over and abovetop of the bath of molten pitch. Then to apply the pitch to the cableor-insulated wire a series of pick-up discs designated 1'7 are provided.One of these discs is provided for each run of cable or insulated wireto be coated and as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, according to the presentinvention, it iscontemplated that a multiplicity of cables or insulatedwires 16 may be coated concurrently. The pickup discs 17 are continuallyrotated by motor 10 and during the operation of the machine serve topick up the molten stearin pitch fromthe tank and carry a small supplyof it to a point above the level of the pitch and to a point adjacentthe insulated wire. Suitable provision is made for scrapingoff from theside of each disc the molten pitch and directing it` to aso-calledlsizing die. One die is provided for each cabley or insulatedwire which is to be'coated.

Fig. 3 shows the manner of applying the pitch to the cablesor insulatedwires. As shown, suitable scrapers 18 are provided, one scraper for eachdisc 17. These Scrapers remove the pitch from the rotating discs anddirect it to the sizing dies y19 through which the cables or insulatedwires pass. As here shown each sizing die is directly mounted on itsassociated scraper. While this construction and manner of mounting thedies is desirable, it is of course, not essential.

By employing the above method of coating the cable or wire with stearinpitch, that is by carrying the pitch up from the molten bath and at apoint, above the bath applying it to the insulated wire or cable, vtheremelting diiculties heretofore encountered are obviated and the pitchcan be applied to the wire with the desired thinness of coating. Aftertraversing the sizing die l19, each cable or insulated wire passes outthrough a bushing 20 (see Fig. 2) which merely serves as a guide andafter passing such bushing the cable or cables as the case may be, passinto the dry coating station. This dry coating station comprises ahopper generally designated 21, into which an amount of mica or coloringpigment maybe placed. The hopper 21 is proyidel with an open top portion21a through which may be introduced into the powdered material one ormore ball agitators designated 22. From time to time the workmanoperating the machine may pick up the ball and advance it towards theentrance end of thel applying station 13. The purpose of the agitator isto somewhat break up and prevent packing of the powdered material in theapplying station 13. Beyond the hopper 2l the cable or insulated wirepasses through a boxlike structure having suitable bushings in its wallsto allow the cable or cables to pass therethrough and which box isprovided with a screened bottom 23. During this passage over the screenexcess powdered material drops off the cable or insulated wire on tothis screen and the screen is agitated or jogged by any suitable meanssuch as the cam device 24. Excess screened powdered material falls intoa boxV 25 and from time to time this box of material can be dumped backinto the hopper as will be readily understood.

In station 13 a coating of powdered mica can be applied to the cable orsuitable pigment coatings can be applied.

Leaving station 13 the Icable 4or insulated wire passes to the parafn orwaxing station generally designated 12. As before, the cable passes overthe parain bath and not through lt as has heretofore been the practice.The molten parafiin is pumped out from the main heated tank generallydesignated 26 (see Fig. 4) in any suitable manner as by motor drivengear pump 27. From the gear pump the molten parafiin is delivered to twotransversely extending nozzle pipes 28. One of these nozzle pipes isplaced below the cable or cables and the other above it as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 and each nozzle pipe is provided with a number of smalljet-like openings to permit the molten paraffin to be thrown in a i'lnestream towards each cable and towards each sizing die 29'l To controlthe amount of :parafn which is applied by-pass pet cocks 30 are providedwhich permit the diverting back into the tank 26 of desired amounts ofthe liquid parain. By manipulating these valves or pet cocks just theproper amount can be caused to flow through the nozzles and be jettedupon the cable or cables. After passing the sizing die 29 which wipesoff any excess 'parain which drops back into a supplementary tank 32,each cable passes out of the machine to take up reel 11, firsttraversing the customary snugger 33. This snugger comprises a piece offibrous rope-like material which is loosely wrapped for severalconvolutions around each cable as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

.Preferably tank 32 is 'provided at its end with a screen 34 so thatscreened liquid paraffin can fall back from tank 32 into the supply tank26. Provision is made for heating boththe stearin pitch tank and theparaffin tank, but as such heating means are old and well known, theyneed not be described. Preferably heating is effected by gas burners andsuitable controlling thermostats may be used if desired. 4

According to the foregoing method and machine, multiple coatings may beapplied to an insulated wire by a continuous process. The insulated wirecan pass directly from "the stearin pitch applying station to theparafiin station without the necessity of being rewound or bent as hasheretofore been necessary when separate applying tanks have been usedand where application of the coatings has been effected by dippingmethods.

The pick-up discs 17 can be coordinated for the aforementioned tanks,and means including proper speed of operation to apply just suicient andnot an excess of stearin pitch. By coating the insulated wires in thismanner excess applications of stearin pitch with an attendantpossibility of remelting of the underlying asphaltic material isobviated. The parain or waxing station also is of such sort that justthe proper amount of parafln can be applied and not an excess whichwould be undesirable.

By applying the molten materials as described, great speed of operationcan be secured. The process also can be continuous since it isunnecessary to separately apply the stearin pitch in a differentoperation or run from that in which the paraflin coating is applied.Furthermore, if desired, there can be an intermediate application ofmica intermediate the application `of the stearin pitch-and theapplication of the paraflln or in lieu of powdered material such as micaa coloring material inl powdered form can be applied to the stearincoated wire which coloring material will distinctly color the afterwardapplied paramn or wax-like coating.

It will also be understood that if desired -the machine can be operatedin such manner that the parailin coating operation is wholly dispensedlwith. This manner of operating the machine could be carried out when itwas desired not to apply a nnal pairamn coat, but to end the processvwith the application of mica or some other similar powdered material.

By carrying up the Wax-like or pitch-like coating materials to the cableor insulated wire which traverses over the tanks at a point above thetop of the molten baths, the heat of the material in these baths does`not have opportunity to cause substantial remelting either of thebituminous impregnating compound in `the insulation of the cable nordoes the heat of the Ybath itself cause a running or blending togetherof the different wax coatings themselves. Furthermore', excessiveapplication of coating material is avoided. Such coating materials canbe so applied that substantially only sucient amounts to provide thedesired coating are applied While excessive amounts which might causeremelting or blending of the compounds or coating materials themselvesis avoided. The coating materials also by being applied to the movinginsulated wire above the tanks have an opportunity to cool somewhatbelow the temperature of the molten baths and this cooling action whichis brought about by the manner of application of the coatings improvesthe results obtainable by the process.

What we claim is:

11A machine for coating cable with multiple coatings and for preventingexcessive remelting of underlying materials on the cable during theapplication of the coatings thereto, said machine comprising a pair oftanks each containing a different heated and molten coating material,means for traversing a cable to be coated first over one tank and thenover the other, a rotating pick-up disk disposed in the first of theaforesaid tanks and extending in proximity to the cable traversingthereover, means for removing coating material from the pick-up disk anddirecting the same upon the cable, said pick-up disk and said meansserving to direct regulated quantities of coatingl material upon thecable and to prevent the remelting of underlying material upon the cableattendant from the excessive application of molten material to the cableand attendant from the heat of the molten material in the tank, meansfor pumping up molten material from the second of in a hot molten bathof the latter, comprising materialto thereby prevent blending of theunnozzles receiving said pumped molten material and adapted to spray thesame upon the previously coated cableto apply a thin coating of thesecond molten coating material to the coated cable and to minimizeremelting of the first mentioned coating during such application.

2. A machine for applying multiple coatings to an insulated wire and forpreventing reblending of the coatings one with the other or thereblending of the coating with material already on the wire, saidmachine comprising a pair of tanks each containing a diiferent coatingmaterial,l means for heating the coating material in each tank, meansfor traversing a Wire first over one tank and then with a continuousuninterrupted straight line motion over the other tank, meansforapplying the molten material from the first tank to the insulatedwire in such quantity and while the wire is moving so that the heat fromthe bath of molten material in the first tank and the heat of theapplied material itself does not reblend the coating with the materialalready upon the wire, and means for applying and regulating theapplication of molten material from the second tank to the wire coatedas aforesaid so that the heat of the bath of molten material in thesecond tank and the heat of the applied material itself does not reblendthe first coating with the second coating.

3. A method of coating with thermoplastic A coating material aninsulated wire or cable having insulation carrying a previously appliedcoatinglor impregnation susceptible of blending with said` thermoplasticcoating material on immersion establishing a hot molten bath ofsaidcthermoplastic coating material, continuously traversing theaforesaid insulated wire past thehot molten bath, and carrying from thebath and applying to the continuously moving wire a limited quantity ofsaid molten material while maintaining said Wire out of the zone ofeffective heat of the bath during application of said molten materialto` thereby prevent blending of the underlying coating or impregnationwith said applied material.

4. A Amethod of coating with thermoplastic coating material, a Wire orcable having a previously applied coating or impregnation susceptible ofblending with said thermoplastic coating material on immersion in a hotmolten bath of the latter, comprising establishing a hotmolten bath ofsaid thermoplastic coating material, continuously traversing theaforesaid wire, and applying to the continuously moving Wire a limitedquantity of said molten material from said bath while maintaining saidwire out of the zone of eifective heat of the bath during application ofsaid molten derlying coating or impregnation with said applied material.

5. The method of applying multiple coatings to a wire or cablecomprising continuously advancing thewire, applying to the continuouslyadk vancing wire a coating susceptible of blending with adjacentcoatings or impregnating material on immersionin a bath cf hot molten`coating material, establishing a hot bath of thermoplastic material,bringing a quantity of said molten material under pressure vto a point-adjacent the wire and there spraying limited quantities of said moltenmaterial over the-first applied coating while the wire is continuouslymoving and 156 maintaining said wire out of the -zone of effective heatof said bath to thereby prevent blending of said coating of moltenmaterial with the rst applied coating or other material on the wire.

6. A method of applying to a Wire or cable multiple thermoplasticcoatingssusceptible of blending with each other or with other materialon the wire on immersion in a hot molten bath of coatingmaterial,comprising continuously advancing the wire, establishing hot moltenbaths respectively of said thermoplastic coating materials, and Whilethe wire is continuously advancing applying to the continuously movingwire a limited quantity of molten material from the iirst bath, and thenapplying to the same continuously moving wire a limited quantity.` ofmolten material from the second bath While maintaining said Wire out ofthe zone of effective heat of both baths during both applications tothereby prevent blending of the said coatings with each other and withother material which may be on the wire.

'1. A machine for 'coating previously coated or impregnated insulatedwire with thermoplastic material and for preventing blendingA of thepreviously applied coating or impregnation with hot molten thermoplasticmaterial, comprising a tank for holding molten thermoplastic materiaL.

heating means for maintaining the material in said tank'in moltencondition, wire handling means for continuously advancing the wire andtraversing the same past a point above the molten material in the tank,said wire handling means being adapted to maintain the wire-out of thezone of heat of the tank, andgmeans for applying limited quantities ofthe. thermoplastic material to the wire, including means for bringing upthermoplastic material under pressure from the tank to the Vicinity ofthe said point of wire' passage, and cooperating devices for directingagainstl the continuously moving wire a spray of the material brought upby the last-mentioned means. Y

8. A machine forv coating a cable with a coating and for preventingundesired remelting of material already on the cable which is to becoated, said machine comprising a tank to hold a bath of heated andmolten coating material heating means for maintaining said material insaid hot molten condition, means fortraversing acable to be coated overthe tankl and at a point away 'from the heat of 4the bath, a rotatingpickup disk dipping into the bathof molten materialy andextending inproximity to the cable to be coated, and means for removing coatingmaterial from the disk anddirecting the same upon the cable, said lastmentioned means and, said pickup serving to applyA restricted quantitiesof coating material to the cable and to thereby prevent remelting ofmeltable material already upon the cable attendant from the heat ofexcessive quantities of applied molten coating material and attendantfrom theheat of the bath.

9. A method of applying multiple coatings to an insulated wire or cable,comprising continuously advancing the wire, applying to the continuouslyadvancing wire a coating susceptible of blending with adjacent coatingor impregnating material on immersion in a bath of hot molten Ycoatingmaterial, establishing a hot molten bath of thermoplastic material, andwhile maintaining the same continuously advancing wire out of the zoneof eiiective heat of saidbath, bringing limited quantities of saidmolten material under pressure to a point adjacent the wire and therespraying a limited quantity of said molten material over theiirst-applied coating while the wire is continuously advancing, forproviding a coata ing of said material on the wire and therebypreventingblending of the iirst-applied coating with the thermoplastic ,coating orother material on the wire.

10. The method of coating with thermoplastic i coating material, a wireor cable having a previously applied coating or impregnating materialsusceptible of blending with said thermoplastic coating material whenimmersed in a hot bath of the latter, comprising the steps ofcontinuously moving the aforesaid wire and applying to said moving wirea limited quantity of hot molten material while maintaining said wire ina relatively cool zoneunaffected by the heat of the molten material tothereby preve'nt blending of the underlying coating with said appliedmaterial.

11. A method. of coating a previously coated wire or cable with a secondcoating ofhigher melting point thermoplastic material and of restrainingand minimizing blending effects between the previously applied coatingmaterial .and the second coating due to remelting of the first coatingmaterial by the second material, comprising establishing a hot moltenbath of said thermoplastic coating maerial, continuously advancing the'aforesaid wire and applying to the continuously moving wire a limitedquantity of said molten material from said bath while maintaining saidwire out of the zone of effective heatrof the bath during application ofsaid molten material to thereby prevent blending of the underlyingcoating with said applied material.

12. A method of applying to a wire or cable multiple thermoplasticcoatings, each susceptible of blending With each other or with othermaterial on the wire when immersed in a hot molten bath of coatingmaterial, comprising continuously 'advancing the wire, establishing hotmolten baths of said thermoplastic coating materials and while the wireis continuously advancing applying to the said continuously moving wirea limited quantity of molten material from the iirst bath, then withoutintermediate cooling or interrupting the movement of the wire, applyinga limited quantity of molten material from the second bath whilemaintaining said wirelv out of the zone of 126 effective heat duringboth applications of coating material from said vbaths to therebyprevent, blending of said coatings with each other and with othermaterial which maybe on the wire.

13. A method of applying to a wire or cable 130 multiple thermoplasticcoatings, each susceptible of blending with each other or with othermaterial on the wire when immersed in a hot molten bath of coatingmaterial, comprising continuously advancing the wire, establishing hotmolten bahs of said thermoplastic coating materials and while the Wireis continuouslyr advancing applying to the said continuously moving wirea limited quantity of molten material from the first bath, then withoutintermediate cooling, applying to the A14o same continuously moving wirea limited quantity of molten material from the second bath whilemainaining said wire out of the zone of effective heat during bothapplications' of coating material from said baths toY thereby preventblending of said coatings with each other and with other material whichmay be on the wire. and intermediate the application of molten materialfrom said baths applying a powdered material.

14. A method of applying to a wire or cable "1'50 multiple thermoplasticcoatings susceptible of blending with each other or with other materialon the' wire on immersion in a hot molten bath of coating material,comprising continuously advancing the wire, establishing hot moltenbaths of thermoplastic coating materials of diierent melting points andwhile the wire iscontinuously advancing applying to said continuouslymoving wire a limited quantity of molten material of relatively highmelting point from the first bath and then without intermediate coolingapplying to the same continuously moving wire a limited quantity ofrelatively low melting point coating material from the second bath andduring the application of both baths maintaining the wire out o1' thezone of effective heat 'of said baths to thereby prevent blending ofsaid coatings with each other and with other materials which may be onthe wire.

15. A method`of coating with wax-like material an insulated wire orcable having insulation carrying a previously applied different coatingor impregnation susceptible of blending with said wax-like material onimmersion in a hot molten bath of the latter, comprising establishing ahot molten bath oi said-wax-iike material, and while continuouslyadvancing the wire and maintaining the same out of the zone of effectiveheat of the bath, carrying molten wax-like material from the bath andspraying the same on the continuously moving wire for applying limitedquantities of said material to the wire and thereby providing the latterwith a wax-like coating while preventing blending of the underlyingcoating or impregnation with the waxlike material.

WILLIAM W. CHURCH. WILLIAM C. ROBINSON.

